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Below is my list of 52 books (which turned into 61 as I added new books along the way) that I set a goal to read and review in 2014. Drive - Daniel Pink - next one cued up on Audible Audio Programs to Listen or Re-Listen to in 2014 46. The Media Training Bible - Brad Phillips - getting interviewed more in 2014 is a goal 56. I only made it through 39 books, with the final review posted earlier today - but I feel like it was a successful year of reading nonetheless. MORE
The post Happy New Year — 2014! PowerPoint Tips Multimedia: Music, sound & video Happy New Year 2014 [link]. Did you find this post useful? Get my free ebook "From Death by PowerPoint to Life by PowerPoint." Click here to find out about training to bring your presentations to the next level! appeared first on PowerPoint Tips Blog. Animation & transitions Misc. MORE
As Melissa Korn reports in The Wall Street Journal, the MBA Class of 2014 are turning down jobs. Tomorrow the job figures are coming out from the Labor Department. They are expected to be good. There is also another sign of an economic recovery. Sometimes multiple ones. They feel confident enough to hold out for that perfect job, at least as they define it. Here is that WSJ article (sub. req.). MORE
A colleague lost her well-paying job. Of course we all grieved with her. But soon enough she as well as the Greek Chorus bounced back from glum to near euphoria. We recounted the success we are having on the freelance market. For many assignments I am charging what I had before the economy went into free fall. Yes, the demand is there and so are budgets. According to The Wall Street Journal, some economists are speculating the Q2 could generate GDP growth of about 4%. MORE
The research on mirror neurons by scientists in Italy confirms that we humans affect each other cell by cell. Sure, technology is a connector force. But there is nothing like one in-person human presence pressing up influentially against another in-person human. A roll of the eyes can deep-six the public relations agency's pitch for the healthcare account. A big smile can be the tipping force in the decision to support the legal associate for partner in the white shoe law firm. MORE
A client suffering from a mild case of public speaking anxiety recently told me, “When I’m giving a presentation, I’m too concerned about what people think of me to act like ‘the leader.’ I don’t want to stand out or project the notion that I’m better than or more knowledgeable than other people in the room. I guess I just don’t want people to think it’s all about me.”. MORE
I spent part of the weekend at the San Francisco Writers Conference which is organized by the irrepressible Mike Larsen and Elizabeth Pomona. I was helping staff the Editorial Freelancers Association booth so did not have time to attend any of the rich offering of sessions. However, a remarkable resource, listed in many of the [.]. Freelance Work Robb Lightfoot San Francisco Writers Conference MORE
We are all only on assignment. That's the 21st century meme. The traditional job is vanishing. Maybe we get to still have one of those when we are young. But then we really are only on assignment, with our eye constantly on hustling for the next one. This is the contract employee or free agent economy. Sure we can frame that as self employment or whatever. Our new life is that of a salesman. Those who can't get the hang of that will starve. MORE
We all know that when it comes to public speaking, “practice makes perfect.” So if you want to bring the house down, you have to prepare your script or outline in advance and practice your delivery by rehearsing out loud. Only then can you rest assured that you’ll give a great speech. MORE
Everywhere there were help-wanted for ghostwriters and speechwriters just about every week in 2014. Thank you, those of you who used our services in 2014. David Murray posted them on Vital Speeches of the Day. Gotham Ghostwriters and Silicon Valley Speechwriters also carried the ads. I got calls, texts, and email from Africa, China, Australia and ever metro areas in the U.S. The market for ghostwriters and speechwriters had tanked at the turn of the century. MORE
Public speaking expert is a title that carries tremendous weight. Demosthenes, public speaking expert of the 4 th century BC, is one of the legendary Greek orators. Some of his most famous (and my favorite) addresses of his relate to his opposition to King Phillip II of Macedon. Although he passed away in 322 BC, Demosthenes is relevant to 21 st century orators because of his dedication to practice and preparation. Demosthenes’ dream was to be a great orator, but he had speech impediments. MORE
On this July 20, 2014, there are myriad socially adept and/or wealthy human beings who are losers. The New Losers are those who wake up and assume today will be like yesterday. The new winners are those who wake up and have already rewired their systems to identify and respond to change. Every era has its own conception of loser, whether that proved valid or not. MORE
Public speaking for entrepreneurs? Absolutely! The reality is that a presentation, a pitch or “casual” conversations about your company all qualify as examples of public speaking. When I ask entrepreneurs about public speaking, I often hear “I don’t have to give speeches.”. There are 3 universal ideas every entrepreneur should remember while pitching their startup: 1) You are Presenting for Your Audience, not Yourself. MORE
Yet most members of the Class of 2014 are entering a Dickensian type of economy clueless about how to sell themselves to employers, temp agencies and investors for their startups. Parents of the Class of 2014 should forget about gifts like cars and trips to China. In the most provincial village in Germany centuries ago and the most sophisticated cities in the U.S. today the key to survival was and is the ability to sell. The grocer had to unload that perishable merchandise. MORE
Happy 2014! “Improve my presentation skills” is a common New Year’s resolution. Finding the perfect example to follow on how to do that i s a b it ra re … that is, until you meet Jack Kornfield. Jack Kornfield is one of the leading Buddhist teachers in America. I saw him speak a few days ago during the Monday Night Class at Spirit Rock Meditation Center in Wood Acre, California, just a short drive from where I live. MORE
You’ve engaged your audience from the beginning of your presentation. They nodded as you delivered your message. Their eyes were locked as you wove through a carefully crafted medley of stories, anecdotes and analogies, all supporting your message. There’s no question; the majority of your audience agrees with what you’re saying. Empowered, the time has come to bring your speech to a close, at which point you exclaim: “In conclusion, I appreciate the time you spent listening about _. Thank you.”. MORE
I’m off this month to the 2014 Ragan Speechwriters Conference in Washington DC. It’ll be my fifth conference. As in previous years, I’ll be podcasting interviews with attendees and presenters and grabbing some video with my Flip video camera to post to YouTube. Conference Call On Thursday February 20th at 7:15pm (Eastern) I’ll host an [.]. Speechwriting raganspeech silicon valley speechwriters roundtable MORE
But, if we are working in 2014, either for an organization or as a self-employed, we are temps. You and I may not be among 2.8 million Americans employed by temporary services agencies. That number comes from the research "Temped Out," conducted by the National Employment Law Project. Here you can read that report. You bet, we are all on short time. Even tenured professors and equity law partners are getting axed. The old protections no longer are bullet-proof. MORE
Have you ever found yourself sitting in the center seat of a packed auditorium—hemmed in on both sides by people and laptops—listening to a keynote speaker who is supposed to be imparting knowledge and wisdom, but instead is droning on and on? You want to run, but you can’t. So you endure what seems like torture. You probably think this only happens in large university lecture halls, right? Not so. MORE
This is a guest post from Brenda Bence , who is a corporate branding and personal branding expert. She wrote this as a tip for Speaker Net News subscribers and gave me permission to reprint it. You can read more about her at www.BrendaBence.com. Brenda does live keynotes but then often follows up with “virtual keynotes” for members of an organization who are located elsewhere. MORE
Our midweek posts focus squarely on the practical, and the most-read posts about public speaking advice in 2014 share what''s on your mind: Slides and presentations, harrassment of women speakers, women''s rhetorical style, nerves and public speaking, tools for speakers and the lack of women on conference programs are this year''s top topics and tips. You''ll see a separate list of our most popular Famous Speech Friday posts for 2014 on Friday. MORE
Are you a font freak? Do you just LOVE interesting fonts? I must admit that I’m a font idiot who can hardly tell the difference between Arial, Tahoma and Verdana, unless they’re right next to each other. Even then, I won’t know which is which. Designers are horrified when I tell them this! Fonts can be fun, but you have to be careful with them: They must be legible! They shouldn’t distract from your message. They aren’t necessarily available from every computer. MORE
Even before the Ebola crisis at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital worsened, the healthcare facility had hired brandname public relations agency Burson-Marsteller. That was October 10th. Here is coverage of that development in Odwyerpr.com by Greg Hazley. By today, it appears that the institution, its leadership, and front-line personnel could become embroiled in litigation. MORE
Daily, we ghostwriters and speechwriters take on the identity of our brandname clients. Halloween provides the opportunity to live in that fantasy that we are those famous people. The very best costume requires a partner. We are to dress like Jack and Jackie Kennedy. As long as Baby Boomers are alive, their memories will remain vivid. There is even a new book out "Jackie After Jack" by Chris Anderson. Cute, ha-ha-ha. Here is the excerpt from Vanity Fair. MORE
" - Keith Kelly, "Blue Christmas on horizon for Gray Lady with layoffs looming," in New York Post, November 25, 2014. "The ax will probably swing for about two dozen journalists at the New York Times in late December, insiders said, as a voluntary buyout program looks like it will fall short of its goal of 100 newsroom people." MORE
When I do a book proposal, even for a book that will be self-published, I outline the publicity plan. That includes a detailed description of at least three top publicists. Yes, I interview them as part of the proposal process. No book, even by a brandname politico like Andrew Cuomo, will grow legs without the wizardry of a specialist in promoting books. That pro has the contacts with broadcast, establishment media, digital publications, bloggers, tweeters, and booking agents for speakers. MORE
In 2014, we skipped well past 160 famous speeches by women in The Eloquent Woman Index, all from our Famous Speech Friday series. The most-read FSF posts published in 2014 about individual speeches reflect the diversity of our speakers and our readers. The list includes a CEO, members of the British Parliament, poets, a novelist, a newspaper editor, a Prime Minister, an actor, and a researcher. MORE
Hercules the first super storm of 2014 was just dropping the first inch of so of the foot or more which it could leave on the New Haven, Connecticut Metro area. Jars and jars of peanut butter, white bread and sugary sodas were still on the shelves in grocery stores. Nowhere on the shelves or in the refrigerated areas was the healthy fare. There are lots of ways to define "healthy." " My way is "low fat" as the number-one requirement. MORE
Assefi hosting a session at TEDMED 2014 (Editor''s note: TEDMED director of stage content Nassim Assefi is a doctor, novelist, civic activist, TED Fellow and active member of the TED community. I coached TEDMED 2014 speakers under Assefi''s direction this year, for a three-day program with 51 percent women speakers, a level unique among TED conferences, let alone your conference. TEDMED 2014 has shown it''s possible when you prioritize it. MORE
entries by May 15, 2014 to HumorPowerTips@HumorPower.com. The next contest will be posted on June 1, 2014. It’s time for our May Joke Contest. Our theme this month is: What to Say to a Naked Person. Some of your lines might be “good” things to say, and some may be “bad” things to say. They will most likely be funny. And the challenge is to keep the lines in good taste. Here are some sample lines, based on the theme, to get you started. MORE
Earlier, I shared what I read in 2013 , and promised I''d share what I''d be reading in 2014, under my ''52 in 52'' Goal. Drive - Daniel Pink - next one cued up on Audible Audio Programs to Listen or Re-Listen to in 2014 46. 2014 Reading List 52 Books in 52 Weeks Marketing Books Speaking Books These are not all speaking books, not all marketing books, not even all non-fiction books. MORE
Well, 2014 is turning out not to be the very good year we assumed we deserved. From 9/11 on, we have been struggling with unexpected crisis. We figured we were entitled to a break. Now Ebola is a reality. Our nest egg is threatened with the volatile stock market. And, who knows how many military conflicts we will enter - and not be able to exit easily. So, leadership has to avoid the usual platitudes. The nation is weary, angry, and not so skilled as we had been before to conjure up hope. MORE
In 2014, it's on the media covering media there. Everything changes. The focus on the annual power fest of the World Economic Forum meet-up in Davos, Switzerland used to be coverage of weighty issues like where the global economy is headed or sustainability. The emerging first-read in the New York Metro area - Capital New York - has a detailed article on how fragmented the media have become. MORE
We celebrated our 100th post , and we''re starting 2014 with a total of 128 famous speeches by women, most with an emphasis on women''s issues. Please share this image and the Index I''ve accomplished many things in my career, but few can match the impact of The Eloquent Woman Index of famous speeches by women , which saw many milestones in 2013. MORE
The rub is that the everything is changing in more ways and more often in 2014. After a wildly successful 2013, I hit a wall in the beginning of 2014. That raw-boned experience taught me plenty about how to conduct business in 2014. Everything always changes. The good news is that I have been able to adapt fast to what now is. That happened through observing the dynamics between rescue dog Lee K. and myself. MORE
Imagine knowing your audience members’ questions while you’re speaking and being able to address them on the spot, before the Q&A. Imagine getting a better “read” on what your listeners are thinking or understanding about your topic and not having to solely rely on their non-verbal cues, which may not always be accurate. Imagine having an audience truly engaged from your first word to your last, because you know without a doubt that you’re delivering the information they find most useful. MORE
Uncategorized 2014 State of the Union Address obama public speaking training MORE
Across industries, generations and income levels, the buzzword is "contagious." " In communications we have to seed our clients' communications with that term. Otherwise, the publics they address will assume they are just not in-touch. Part of this phenomenon stems from the contagiousness of memes of Facebook, which is used by more than a billion humans on planet earth. New research involving 100 million people found that feelings expressed on Facebook are contagious. MORE
You can lead the change to more effective presentations in 2014 if you start small, build support, and always focus on the bottom-line benefit to your organization When I am delivering my workshops, a common concern is raised by the participants. They think that the ideas I share are great, they really like the slide makeovers I show them, but they are concerned that the new visuals they create won’t meet with management approval. MORE
Here’s a free On Demand archive of certain presentations from the conference. For speechwriters, I highly recommend Nancy Duarte’s talk “Resonate: Present Visual Stories that Transform Audiences” and Giovanni Livera‘s “Storyboarding Workshop” Both are listed in the tab for Monday June 30. The Tuesday presentation by Jay Baer on the “Speaker as Media Company” has […]. Speechwriting MORE
You will never be invited to present at TED Talks if you're a mere expert. Instead you had to position and package yourself as a Thought Hacker. And if you plan to ghostwrite those TED Talk remarks you better reinvent yourself as a Communications Disruptor. This is not just a shift in buzzwords. It's a 180 in objectives. MORE
But that doesn't mean that the 2014 holiday season will be a totally joyful one. This is America, where the Disneyfication of life thrived. So, the first impulse is to expect a happy ending, following an ordeal. But that's not how it goes, is it. Yes, Madonna Badger has re-started her business. Last July she eloped with William Duke. In 2011, in a Christmas morning fire in her Stamford, Connecticut home, she lost her three young daughters and her parents. MORE
What do Winston Churchill, Warren Buffet and John F. Kennedy have in common? Sure, all three achieved extraordinary success – but all three also suffered from a fear of public speaking. And each one overcame their fears and went on to become gifted speakers. The reality is that everyone gets a rush of adrenaline before presenting – it’s the normal “fight or flight” response. The key is to choose fight instead of flight, powering through and effectively utilizing your uneasiness. MORE
I often create a slide that talks about x number of items: 6 tips for stunning slides. 10 ways to organize your time. 5 steps to a slide makeover. When I think how to visualize the concept of such a slide, I often (perhaps lamely) come up with a checklist. Finally, I created my own and thought you might like a similar one for your own slides. Get the Post-it ® note. I started with a Post-it note. You could certainly take your own photo, but I found a good photo from freeimages.com here. MORE
2014 Related Topics PowerPoint Tips
DECEMBER 30, 2013
The post Happy New Year — 2014! PowerPoint Tips Multimedia: Music, sound & video Happy New Year 2014 [link]. Did you find this post useful? Get my free ebook "From Death by PowerPoint to Life by PowerPoint." Click here to find out about training to bring your presentations to the next level! appeared first on PowerPoint Tips Blog. Animation & transitions Misc.
Ian Griffin - Professionally Speaking
FEBRUARY 3, 2014
I’m off this month to the 2014 Ragan Speechwriters Conference in Washington DC. It’ll be my fifth conference. As in previous years, I’ll be podcasting interviews with attendees and presenters and grabbing some video with my Flip video camera to post to YouTube. Conference Call On Thursday February 20th at 7:15pm (Eastern) I’ll host an [.]. Speechwriting raganspeech silicon valley speechwriters roundtable
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Ian Griffin - Professionally Speaking
FEBRUARY 18, 2014
I spent part of the weekend at the San Francisco Writers Conference which is organized by the irrepressible Mike Larsen and Elizabeth Pomona. I was helping staff the Editorial Freelancers Association booth so did not have time to attend any of the rich offering of sessions. However, a remarkable resource, listed in many of the [.]. Freelance Work Robb Lightfoot San Francisco Writers Conference
Ian Griffin - Professionally Speaking
JULY 2, 2014
Here’s a free On Demand archive of certain presentations from the conference. For speechwriters, I highly recommend Nancy Duarte’s talk “Resonate: Present Visual Stories that Transform Audiences” and Giovanni Livera‘s “Storyboarding Workshop” Both are listed in the tab for Monday June 30. The Tuesday presentation by Jay Baer on the “Speaker as Media Company” has […]. Speechwriting
Speak and Deliver
JANUARY 1, 2014
Earlier, I shared what I read in 2013 , and promised I''d share what I''d be reading in 2014, under my ''52 in 52'' Goal. Drive - Daniel Pink - next one cued up on Audible Audio Programs to Listen or Re-Listen to in 2014 46. 2014 Reading List 52 Books in 52 Weeks Marketing Books Speaking Books These are not all speaking books, not all marketing books, not even all non-fiction books.
TJ Walker Interactive
JANUARY 29, 2014
Uncategorized 2014 State of the Union Address obama public speaking training
Jane Genova: Speechwriter - Ghostwriter
NOVEMBER 4, 2014
But that doesn't mean that the 2014 holiday season will be a totally joyful one. This is America, where the Disneyfication of life thrived. So, the first impulse is to expect a happy ending, following an ordeal. But that's not how it goes, is it. Yes, Madonna Badger has re-started her business. Last July she eloped with William Duke. In 2011, in a Christmas morning fire in her Stamford, Connecticut home, she lost her three young daughters and her parents.
Jane Genova: Speechwriter - Ghostwriter
OCTOBER 9, 2014
Daily, we ghostwriters and speechwriters take on the identity of our brandname clients. Halloween provides the opportunity to live in that fantasy that we are those famous people. The very best costume requires a partner. We are to dress like Jack and Jackie Kennedy. As long as Baby Boomers are alive, their memories will remain vivid. There is even a new book out "Jackie After Jack" by Chris Anderson. Cute, ha-ha-ha. Here is the excerpt from Vanity Fair.
The Eloquent Woman
SEPTEMBER 24, 2014
Assefi hosting a session at TEDMED 2014 (Editor''s note: TEDMED director of stage content Nassim Assefi is a doctor, novelist, civic activist, TED Fellow and active member of the TED community. I coached TEDMED 2014 speakers under Assefi''s direction this year, for a three-day program with 51 percent women speakers, a level unique among TED conferences, let alone your conference. TEDMED 2014 has shown it''s possible when you prioritize it.
Jane Genova: Speechwriter - Ghostwriter
APRIL 3, 2014
As Melissa Korn reports in The Wall Street Journal, the MBA Class of 2014 are turning down jobs. Tomorrow the job figures are coming out from the Labor Department. They are expected to be good. There is also another sign of an economic recovery. Sometimes multiple ones. They feel confident enough to hold out for that perfect job, at least as they define it. Here is that WSJ article (sub. req.).
Jane Genova: Speechwriter - Ghostwriter
AUGUST 31, 2014
But, if we are working in 2014, either for an organization or as a self-employed, we are temps. You and I may not be among 2.8 million Americans employed by temporary services agencies. That number comes from the research "Temped Out," conducted by the National Employment Law Project. Here you can read that report. You bet, we are all on short time. Even tenured professors and equity law partners are getting axed. The old protections no longer are bullet-proof.
Jane Genova: Speechwriter - Ghostwriter
OCTOBER 15, 2014
Well, 2014 is turning out not to be the very good year we assumed we deserved. From 9/11 on, we have been struggling with unexpected crisis. We figured we were entitled to a break. Now Ebola is a reality. Our nest egg is threatened with the volatile stock market. And, who knows how many military conflicts we will enter - and not be able to exit easily. So, leadership has to avoid the usual platitudes. The nation is weary, angry, and not so skilled as we had been before to conjure up hope.
Jane Genova: Speechwriter - Ghostwriter
JULY 20, 2014
On this July 20, 2014, there are myriad socially adept and/or wealthy human beings who are losers. The New Losers are those who wake up and assume today will be like yesterday. The new winners are those who wake up and have already rewired their systems to identify and respond to change. Every era has its own conception of loser, whether that proved valid or not.
Jane Genova: Speechwriter - Ghostwriter
NOVEMBER 27, 2014
" - Keith Kelly, "Blue Christmas on horizon for Gray Lady with layoffs looming," in New York Post, November 25, 2014. "The ax will probably swing for about two dozen journalists at the New York Times in late December, insiders said, as a voluntary buyout program looks like it will fall short of its goal of 100 newsroom people."
Jane Genova: Speechwriter - Ghostwriter
MAY 8, 2014
A colleague lost her well-paying job. Of course we all grieved with her. But soon enough she as well as the Greek Chorus bounced back from glum to near euphoria. We recounted the success we are having on the freelance market. For many assignments I am charging what I had before the economy went into free fall. Yes, the demand is there and so are budgets. According to The Wall Street Journal, some economists are speculating the Q2 could generate GDP growth of about 4%.
Jane Genova: Speechwriter - Ghostwriter
JUNE 6, 2014
The research on mirror neurons by scientists in Italy confirms that we humans affect each other cell by cell. Sure, technology is a connector force. But there is nothing like one in-person human presence pressing up influentially against another in-person human. A roll of the eyes can deep-six the public relations agency's pitch for the healthcare account. A big smile can be the tipping force in the decision to support the legal associate for partner in the white shoe law firm.
Jane Genova: Speechwriter - Ghostwriter
OCTOBER 22, 2014
When I do a book proposal, even for a book that will be self-published, I outline the publicity plan. That includes a detailed description of at least three top publicists. Yes, I interview them as part of the proposal process. No book, even by a brandname politico like Andrew Cuomo, will grow legs without the wizardry of a specialist in promoting books. That pro has the contacts with broadcast, establishment media, digital publications, bloggers, tweeters, and booking agents for speakers.
The Eloquent Woman
JANUARY 3, 2014
We celebrated our 100th post , and we''re starting 2014 with a total of 128 famous speeches by women, most with an emphasis on women''s issues. Please share this image and the Index I''ve accomplished many things in my career, but few can match the impact of The Eloquent Woman Index of famous speeches by women , which saw many milestones in 2013.
Jane Genova: Speechwriter - Ghostwriter
JANUARY 3, 2014
You will never be invited to present at TED Talks if you're a mere expert. Instead you had to position and package yourself as a Thought Hacker. And if you plan to ghostwrite those TED Talk remarks you better reinvent yourself as a Communications Disruptor. This is not just a shift in buzzwords. It's a 180 in objectives.
The Eloquent Woman
DECEMBER 25, 2014
Our midweek posts focus squarely on the practical, and the most-read posts about public speaking advice in 2014 share what''s on your mind: Slides and presentations, harrassment of women speakers, women''s rhetorical style, nerves and public speaking, tools for speakers and the lack of women on conference programs are this year''s top topics and tips. You''ll see a separate list of our most popular Famous Speech Friday posts for 2014 on Friday.
Jane Genova: Speechwriter - Ghostwriter
JANUARY 2, 2014
Hercules the first super storm of 2014 was just dropping the first inch of so of the foot or more which it could leave on the New Haven, Connecticut Metro area. Jars and jars of peanut butter, white bread and sugary sodas were still on the shelves in grocery stores. Nowhere on the shelves or in the refrigerated areas was the healthy fare. There are lots of ways to define "healthy." " My way is "low fat" as the number-one requirement.
Jane Genova: Speechwriter - Ghostwriter
JULY 19, 2014
The rub is that the everything is changing in more ways and more often in 2014. After a wildly successful 2013, I hit a wall in the beginning of 2014. That raw-boned experience taught me plenty about how to conduct business in 2014. Everything always changes. The good news is that I have been able to adapt fast to what now is. That happened through observing the dynamics between rescue dog Lee K. and myself.
DeFinis Communications
MARCH 21, 2014
We all know that when it comes to public speaking, “practice makes perfect.” So if you want to bring the house down, you have to prepare your script or outline in advance and practice your delivery by rehearsing out loud. Only then can you rest assured that you’ll give a great speech.
Dave Paradi's PowerPoint Blog
JANUARY 7, 2014
You can lead the change to more effective presentations in 2014 if you start small, build support, and always focus on the bottom-line benefit to your organization When I am delivering my workshops, a common concern is raised by the participants. They think that the ideas I share are great, they really like the slide makeovers I show them, but they are concerned that the new visuals they create won’t meet with management approval.
Jane Genova: Speechwriter - Ghostwriter
DECEMBER 31, 2014
Everywhere there were help-wanted for ghostwriters and speechwriters just about every week in 2014. Thank you, those of you who used our services in 2014. David Murray posted them on Vital Speeches of the Day. Gotham Ghostwriters and Silicon Valley Speechwriters also carried the ads. I got calls, texts, and email from Africa, China, Australia and ever metro areas in the U.S. The market for ghostwriters and speechwriters had tanked at the turn of the century.
The Eloquent Woman
DECEMBER 26, 2014
In 2014, we skipped well past 160 famous speeches by women in The Eloquent Woman Index, all from our Famous Speech Friday series. The most-read FSF posts published in 2014 about individual speeches reflect the diversity of our speakers and our readers. The list includes a CEO, members of the British Parliament, poets, a novelist, a newspaper editor, a Prime Minister, an actor, and a researcher.
Jane Genova: Speechwriter - Ghostwriter
MAY 11, 2014
We are all only on assignment. That's the 21st century meme. The traditional job is vanishing. Maybe we get to still have one of those when we are young. But then we really are only on assignment, with our eye constantly on hustling for the next one. This is the contract employee or free agent economy. Sure we can frame that as self employment or whatever. Our new life is that of a salesman. Those who can't get the hang of that will starve.
Matt Eventoff
OCTOBER 8, 2014
Public speaking for entrepreneurs? Absolutely! The reality is that a presentation, a pitch or “casual” conversations about your company all qualify as examples of public speaking. When I ask entrepreneurs about public speaking, I often hear “I don’t have to give speeches.”. There are 3 universal ideas every entrepreneur should remember while pitching their startup: 1) You are Presenting for Your Audience, not Yourself.
Jane Genova: Speechwriter - Ghostwriter
OCTOBER 16, 2014
Even before the Ebola crisis at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital worsened, the healthcare facility had hired brandname public relations agency Burson-Marsteller. That was October 10th. Here is coverage of that development in Odwyerpr.com by Greg Hazley. By today, it appears that the institution, its leadership, and front-line personnel could become embroiled in litigation.
Jane Genova: Speechwriter - Ghostwriter
MARCH 13, 2014
Across industries, generations and income levels, the buzzword is "contagious." " In communications we have to seed our clients' communications with that term. Otherwise, the publics they address will assume they are just not in-touch. Part of this phenomenon stems from the contagiousness of memes of Facebook, which is used by more than a billion humans on planet earth. New research involving 100 million people found that feelings expressed on Facebook are contagious.
DeFinis Communications
MARCH 28, 2014
Imagine knowing your audience members’ questions while you’re speaking and being able to address them on the spot, before the Q&A. Imagine getting a better “read” on what your listeners are thinking or understanding about your topic and not having to solely rely on their non-verbal cues, which may not always be accurate. Imagine having an audience truly engaged from your first word to your last, because you know without a doubt that you’re delivering the information they find most useful.
Humor Power
MAY 1, 2014
entries by May 15, 2014 to HumorPowerTips@HumorPower.com. The next contest will be posted on June 1, 2014. It’s time for our May Joke Contest. Our theme this month is: What to Say to a Naked Person. Some of your lines might be “good” things to say, and some may be “bad” things to say. They will most likely be funny. And the challenge is to keep the lines in good taste. Here are some sample lines, based on the theme, to get you started.
Matt Eventoff
MARCH 1, 2014
What do Winston Churchill, Warren Buffet and John F. Kennedy have in common? Sure, all three achieved extraordinary success – but all three also suffered from a fear of public speaking. And each one overcame their fears and went on to become gifted speakers. The reality is that everyone gets a rush of adrenaline before presenting – it’s the normal “fight or flight” response. The key is to choose fight instead of flight, powering through and effectively utilizing your uneasiness.
PowerPoint Tips
SEPTEMBER 20, 2014
This is a guest post from Brenda Bence , who is a corporate branding and personal branding expert. She wrote this as a tip for Speaker Net News subscribers and gave me permission to reprint it. You can read more about her at www.BrendaBence.com. Brenda does live keynotes but then often follows up with “virtual keynotes” for members of an organization who are located elsewhere.
Speak and Deliver
DECEMBER 30, 2014
Below is my list of 52 books (which turned into 61 as I added new books along the way) that I set a goal to read and review in 2014. Drive - Daniel Pink - next one cued up on Audible Audio Programs to Listen or Re-Listen to in 2014 46. The Media Training Bible - Brad Phillips - getting interviewed more in 2014 is a goal 56. I only made it through 39 books, with the final review posted earlier today - but I feel like it was a successful year of reading nonetheless.
DeFinis Communications
AUGUST 7, 2014
A client suffering from a mild case of public speaking anxiety recently told me, “When I’m giving a presentation, I’m too concerned about what people think of me to act like ‘the leader.’ I don’t want to stand out or project the notion that I’m better than or more knowledgeable than other people in the room. I guess I just don’t want people to think it’s all about me.”.
Jane Genova: Speechwriter - Ghostwriter
MARCH 23, 2014
Yet most members of the Class of 2014 are entering a Dickensian type of economy clueless about how to sell themselves to employers, temp agencies and investors for their startups. Parents of the Class of 2014 should forget about gifts like cars and trips to China. In the most provincial village in Germany centuries ago and the most sophisticated cities in the U.S. today the key to survival was and is the ability to sell. The grocer had to unload that perishable merchandise.
PowerPoint Tips
JUNE 22, 2014
I often create a slide that talks about x number of items: 6 tips for stunning slides. 10 ways to organize your time. 5 steps to a slide makeover. When I think how to visualize the concept of such a slide, I often (perhaps lamely) come up with a checklist. Finally, I created my own and thought you might like a similar one for your own slides. Get the Post-it ® note. I started with a Post-it note. You could certainly take your own photo, but I found a good photo from freeimages.com here.
Matt Eventoff
MARCH 18, 2014
You’ve engaged your audience from the beginning of your presentation. They nodded as you delivered your message. Their eyes were locked as you wove through a carefully crafted medley of stories, anecdotes and analogies, all supporting your message. There’s no question; the majority of your audience agrees with what you’re saying. Empowered, the time has come to bring your speech to a close, at which point you exclaim: “In conclusion, I appreciate the time you spent listening about _. Thank you.”.
Matt Eventoff
SEPTEMBER 8, 2014
Public speaking expert is a title that carries tremendous weight. Demosthenes, public speaking expert of the 4 th century BC, is one of the legendary Greek orators. Some of his most famous (and my favorite) addresses of his relate to his opposition to King Phillip II of Macedon. Although he passed away in 322 BC, Demosthenes is relevant to 21 st century orators because of his dedication to practice and preparation. Demosthenes’ dream was to be a great orator, but he had speech impediments.
DeFinis Communications
APRIL 28, 2014
Have you ever found yourself sitting in the center seat of a packed auditorium—hemmed in on both sides by people and laptops—listening to a keynote speaker who is supposed to be imparting knowledge and wisdom, but instead is droning on and on? You want to run, but you can’t. So you endure what seems like torture. You probably think this only happens in large university lecture halls, right? Not so.
DeFinis Communications
JANUARY 9, 2014
Happy 2014! “Improve my presentation skills” is a common New Year’s resolution. Finding the perfect example to follow on how to do that i s a b it ra re … that is, until you meet Jack Kornfield. Jack Kornfield is one of the leading Buddhist teachers in America. I saw him speak a few days ago during the Monday Night Class at Spirit Rock Meditation Center in Wood Acre, California, just a short drive from where I live.
PowerPoint Tips
OCTOBER 11, 2014
Are you a font freak? Do you just LOVE interesting fonts? I must admit that I’m a font idiot who can hardly tell the difference between Arial, Tahoma and Verdana, unless they’re right next to each other. Even then, I won’t know which is which. Designers are horrified when I tell them this! Fonts can be fun, but you have to be careful with them: They must be legible! They shouldn’t distract from your message. They aren’t necessarily available from every computer.
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